Kind of a counter point to Gotthammer's thread.
Now based entirely on my entirely anecdotal observations online, there seems to be a certain demograph who complaint about prices, and it seems to range from mid-teens to early twenties. This is also the same demograph least likely to be living independently.
Let me give you some perspective, from my own.
I earn £23,500 a year, which is nothing to be sniffed at. After tax and national insurance, plus pension investment and that, I take home around £1,500 a month. Seems like a lot of money, but it's not. And as such, you might think I would be price sensitive, but I'm quite the opposite. Why? Well I shall try to explain.
Let's kick off with my living expenses.....and remember, I have £1,500 a month income...
£450 rent on my flat (cheap for my area too, but that's by the by.
£432 a month just to get to work and back (I kid you not!)
£80ish a month on food (and that's cheap, on account I make a lot of stuff from scratch)
£76 on council tax.
£20 a month to pay for electricity.
£10 a month for water (yes folks, you have to pay for it!)
So by the time I've finished, you know, living, I have £430ish left.
Then of course comes additional bills we like to consider optional...
Phone bill? Average of £40 a month.
Internet? £48 a month (though plan I am sucks balls)
£344 a month left. Suddenly not so awesome.
Now, I also drink and smoke. Most drinking sessions involve around 6 pints, at £3.50 a pop. Typically once a week, but usually twice on pay week. Lets add that up....6 x £3.50, x 5 (average month) means I'm paying £105.00 a month. Leaving £229. Tobacco, papers and filters? About £40 a month.
All of a sudden, I'm left with £189 a month... All the above costs? Once it's spent, I eventually have nothing left to show for it......
Whereas this month, I spent £75ish just on GW books.... A good investment I feel as I can retread. Same as if I'd bought models. They're forever. The more I use them, the better value they prove.
In short? The price is nothing, not when you live in the real world and have to pay your own way...